Margaret H. L. Lim and Su Jen Buchheim. Published by Fairy Bird Children's Books. ISBN-10:9834263805. ISBN-13:9789834263805 . Age 8+. 28 pages. 212mm X 275mm (8.3in X 10.8in). Hardcover. 2005.

Payah was a gung-ho little girl of 8 from the indigenous group of 'Kayan' in interior Sarawak. As her parents were usually busy at the field, she was taken care of by her grandmother whom she fondly called 'Uku'.

It was Sunday at the market and Payah was searching frantically for her grandmother. Her grandmother was bargaining with a sarong seller. After what seemed like eternity, she managed to hurry her grandmother to a coffee shop where an injured hornbill was held captive. Payah wanted to save the hornbill from 'a fate worse than death'.

The towkay offered to sell at twenty ringgit but Payah's grandmother was only willing to part with ten. And so, the haggling started. Payah finally got the hornbill for ten ringgit and fifty sen. She named it Kenyi.

The second half of the story saw more of Payah's compassionate nature in action. Besides Kenyi the hornbill, Payah was also looking after Sammy, the orphaned baby orang utan. On a hot and sleepy afternoon, Payah led Kenyi and Sammy to her hideout which was a cleared patch on the bank of a river.

Before they could reach the hideout, they were distracted by a whimper. With heart pounding wildly, Payah seek out the sound and saw to her horror...

The first few pages comprise full-page coloured as well as black-and-white illustrations that set the scene for the story. They depict Payah, her grandmother and great aunt's journey from their long house to the Sunday market.

In this inaugural title in the 'Payah' series, you will get acquainted with Payah, and her warm-heartedness will swiftly endear herself to you and your child.

Payah has a strong bond with her grandmother and both seem to understand each other very well. Both shared the same conviction that the injured hornbill needed to be rescued, unlike Payah's great aunt who has a grumpy disposition.

The inclusion of some local words such as 'sarong' and 'perahu' makes it more relevant to Malaysians. Then, there is the game called 'Paper, Scissors, Stone' which most school-going children can relate to.

Through 'Payah', your child will know that the hornbills and orang utans are protected species. There is the Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabiltation Centre that rehabilitates incapacitated wildlife like Sammy.

'Payah' is also a great way to learn about Sarawak, her people and their way of life. Some of us from the Peninsula associate Sarawak with Ibans but 'Payah' reveals that there are many more indigenous group than we thought.

The illustrations are detailed and accurate, with funny scenes by the side. Look out for the two chickens in whispered consultation. The black-and-white illustrations that accompany the story on alternate pages help to sustain your child's interest.

An amusing Malaysian children's story with a 'National Geographic' flavour.

Margaret H. L. Lim and Su Jen Buchheim. Published by Fairy Bird Books. ISBN-10:9834263813. ISBN-13:9789834263812 . Age 12+ years. 38 pages. 212mm X 275mm (8.3in X 10.8in). Hardcover. 2006.

Sammy and Kenyi had been sent to the Semenggoh Rehabilitation Centre but another adventure awaited Payah.

Someone had been stealing fruits from her great aunt's, Uku Nyalo's, garden. The culprit had not been found and the fruits were still disappearing, night after night. Uku Nyalo's usual angry disposition had turned menacing.

One night, Payah woke up with a start. When she went to check, she found the person who had been stealing from her aunt. He was Four Eyes, a six-year old boy from the Penan group who are hunters and gatherers. As he was an orphan, he was placed with a foster family but he ran away.

Oh, what was Payah to do? Turn him in and see him sent to prison? Or let him be and the fruits would continue to disappear?

There are a few full-page color illustrations and half-page as well as spot illustrations in black-and-white.

Suspenseful and poignant, 'Four Eyes' develops further the characters introduced earlier in 'Payah'.

Payah is at an age where she thinks she knows a lot, but in fact is still too young to be able to consider the consequences arising from her hasty decisions. It would be opportune to impress upon your child the need to consult an adult whenever she is faced with unusual problems.

The book is rich in vocabulary such as "agog with curiosity", "a parang gleamed wickedly" and "a tone full of consternation". It is the author's intention to have the child read the books himself/herself. Nevertheless, a child as young as 7 would be able to enjoy listening to Payah's adventures.

The more you read about Payah, the more real she becomes. It would be great if there is a 'Payah's Trail' devised to complete the readers' experience of Payah's adventures.

The illustrations are a joy to look at, especially the full-page colour illustration on Uku Nyalo's meeting with her late husband, which is simply beautiful.

Margaret H. L. Lim and Su Jen Buchheim. Published by Fairy Bird Books. ISBN: 9789834263829 . Age 12+ years. 44 pages. 212mm X 275mm (8.3in X 10.8in). Hardcover. 2007.

Payah's circle is getting bigger! A Chinese girl, Precious Jade (Poh Giok), and her younger brother, Turnip Head (Chai Thau), provided much of the excitement in this third instalment of the 'Payah' series.

It was Chinese New Year. Payah and her friend, Usun, decked themselves in nice dresses and red make-up to visit Precious Jade in Kampung China. As the girls tucked into the delicacies and talked about auspicious Chinese names, the playful Turnip Head shot a rubber band at his sister.

Moments later, there was a loud crack and sparks flew left right and centre in the middle of the living room. Turnip Head had set off a tub of fireworks! Furniture were singed and ceiling scorched. Turnip Head's pocket was duly emptied by his father to prevent another misdemeanour.

It was a sultry afternoon. Four Eyes, the orphan boy under the care of Uku Nyalo, was munching on corns with Turnip Head. One of Uku Nyalo's prized hens came over to peck on the kernels thrown by the boys. Then the boys looked at one another, an idea seemed to creep into both minds at the same time.

Turnip Head got up and walked into the woods, followed by Four Eyes... and the hen. What's Turnip Head up to this time?

If you think Payah was a handful, wait till you get to know Turnip Head! He's the boy on the book cover who stuck his tongue out. Got the idea?

He is mischievous and full of ideas. Top that up with naivety, his pranks are both shocking and funny. Uku Nyalo with her grumpy nature, has once again provided the 'bad guy' element in this story. Her dramatic reactions to most things have added much zing. She met her match in the form of 'Ah Choh', Turnip Head's grandmother.

You read with bated breath when these two women faced each other, both equally intimidating and eccentric, yet highly principled.

The Chinese culture in Malaysia was cleverly interwoven into the plot. Hence, it is as much a cultural experience as it is an amusing story.

While the coloured illustrations in 'Four Eyes' are more intense and accentuate light and shadow more profoundly, the illustrations here are 'cleaner' and some used the in-focus/out-of focus technique like a photograph.